This has been a month chockablock full of happenings.
Among them were the fifth annual Make-a-Wish Foundation Golf Tournament, the Breakfast Rotary Club’s fabled annual Luau and Barn Party, and Community Partners in Caring’s 20th Birthday Celebration.
These are only three of a series of events that deserved our attention. Worthy of note were also the Coastal Voices Spring Concert, which featured Orcutt Academy High School students; a rummage sale (teeming with jaw-dropping bargains) co-sponsored by the Minerva Club and the First United Methodist Church; and a Community Action Commission dinner that honored Allan Hancock President Kevin Walthers.
May’s social menu left us exhausted but happy. Here are some particulars.
Wish you were there
The Make-a-Wish Foundation golf tournament, dinner, and auction took place on Friday, May 4, at the Santa Maria Country Club.
Surprises abounded. For example, four golfers in matching black kilts and, from the Central Coast Pipes & Drums group, two bagpipers (one female). I was taken aback by the number of people—which was 200-plus, way more than last year—at the always super-enjoyable buffet.
There were wonderful cakes, homemade cream puffs, and pies at the dessert auction. Michael Ruffoni and Ann Glines, thanks for samples of your bidding wins.
Some background: Several years ago, Jared Baily, of the Santa Maria Valley Physical Therapy Group, and Danny Sheridan came up with the idea to host an event that would benefit children with life-threatening medical issues.
Children would be granted wishes, like a trip to Disneyland.
This tournament attracted 136 golfers. A whole lot of folks took advantage of the dinner tickets that were available to non-golfers. The dining room was packed. There were so many unexpected walk-ins that two extra tables had to be set up on the dance floor and diners were seated in the bar.
The buffet offered roast beef, chicken, scalloped potatoes, very tasty rice, salad, mixed vegetables, and the Country Club’s ever-popular make-your-own sundae bar. During the social hour, wine and beer were complimentary.
Jared’s golf foursome included Sheridan, Fernando Holguin, and Brent Wallingford. Karen Bailey and her brother Dr. Tom Dawes were, of course, in the crowd. Todd Martin and Christy Sarten, both from the Santa Maria Valley Physical Therapy Group, were there as well.
Fun with Rotary
The Rotary Breakfast Club’s annual Barn Party and Luau, held on Saturday, May 12, at the Santa Maria Fairpark’s barn, is always popular. Perhaps because of the hosted bar, perhaps because of the luau menu (pork, Hawaiian salad, chicken), and perhaps because it is a good place to go to see everyone you know.
Outgoing president for the club, Laurie Tamura, told me that she had enjoyed her year at the top. Incoming president Mike Buhring is ready to take the Rotary’s reins.
Familiar faces in the crowd included Santa Maria City Councilmember Dr. Michael Moats, Dan and Peggy Blough, Karen O’Neill, Jim Bray, and Santa Barbara Foundation president Ron Gallo.
This year’s silent and live auction items got five stars (out of a possible five).
Community Partners in Caring
May 19 was a happy occasion for Community Partners in Caring.
At the Garden Mediterranean Restaurant and Café on McClelland Street, the nonprofit celebrated not only its 20th year, but a stunning revitalization that will benefit seniors in Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Solvang.
Community Partners in Caring, geared toward the needs of the elderly, was not doing well. The volunteer staff had dwindled to 18, hardly enough to serve a community with so many oldsters.
Enter Fairy Godmother and organization whiz, Velma Contreras.
“We were lucky to find her,” said Jose Gonzales, the organization’s board president
The buzz is that this lady knows how to reverse a downward trajectory and how to infuse oxygen into a place gasping for air. The volunteer staff is now up to 60 and growing. Way to go, Velma!
The event attracted about 63 friends, supporters, and Community Partners in Caring volunteers, including Scheryn Pratt, Joyce Ellen Lippmann, boardmember Bill Thompson, and Roy Reed.
We enjoyed Mediterranean dining al fresco. The laughing, conversing, and imbibing, in view of little lemon trees along the stone wall with live guitar music in the background, reminded me of travel ads for Tuscany.
Margie Halsell was there with husband Chuck, daughter Susie, and her parents. Margie wrote the grant that secured startup funding from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and launched a badly needed resource that has been a lifeline for many seniors.
It was a good time put on by a great organization.
Dear coming-up month of June, what have you in store for us?
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you can reach her at column151@gmail.com.
This article appears in May 31 – Jun 7, 2018.